A new Parksville business is offering locals and tourists without a watercraft another way to get out on the water.
Greg Chartrand, a new arrival to Parksville, opened Oceanside Outfitters on June 21 this summer, renting stand-up paddleboards and inflatable kayaks, in addition to mountain bikes.
The business has had a strong, positive reception over the summer, said Chartrand, with those looking to rent equipment, as well as local organizations helping him to start his new business.
“It’s pretty neat when that happens, because when you open a business in a big city, you don’t get that carpet rolled out for you,” he said.
But as the tourist season is winding down, Chartrand is planning to bring in sports equipment for sale, as well as do trade-ins and consignment of used gear.
Chartrand, a carpenter by trade and previous owner of a construction and industrial supply businesses, had visited Parksville with his family for about 10 years, with his wife’s parents living in the area over the past 20 years.
Charmed by the area, the family recently chose to put down roots in Parksville.
Chartrand was ready to open up another business, but not like he had before.
“I told my wife when we moved out here, I said, ‘I’m not opening up a construction business. I’m not doing construction. I’m doing something fun,'” he said.
“I wanted to do something that people enjoy. It’s not like when you’re tearing apart somebody’s kitchen, and they’re like, ‘When are you going to be done?'”
While visiting the area, Chartrand and his family always had lots to do and enjoy, but he found there wasn’t much in the way of sports equipment rentals. Coming up with a few ideas, Chartrand eventually decided on renting stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), inflatable kayaks and mountain bikes.
Unlike other kayak or SUP rentals that are positioned right down at the beach, Chartrand said one of the benefits of working out of a storefront in Parksville is that there is no limitation on where renters can use the equipment.
The rental ranges from two hours to 24 hours (there are also multi-day rates) starting at $15 up to $50, meaning renters can take a kayak down to Parksville beach, or off to Spider Lake, to Beachcomber Regional Park or elsewhere.
One of the reasons Chartrand went with inflatable kayaks was to keep them portable so that renters could easily take them where they want to go.
Chartrand said the business has seen a really good response from renters, and from the business community.
“I found that there was a lot of people in town that were very inviting, very helpful,” he said, pointing out the Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce and the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association.
“They introduced themselves right away, and basically were there to help, were willing to help and wanted to help,” said Chartrand.
Now that summer is coming to a close, Chartrand is having to transition his business for the fall, winter and spring months, as he knew he would, he said.
The plan is to bring in mid- to high-end sports equipment for sale, emphasizing hockey to start but also looking to add baseball and lacrosse equipment as well as others and the seasons change. He’ll also offer skate sharpening and other services, as well as do consignment sales of used equipment and trade-ins as well.
To make that transition, Chartrand said the store will be closing for the first week of September, then re-opening with the new merchandise.
Chartrand has already seen a good response to those plans as well, he said.
“I met with people from the Oceanside Minor Hockey Association and various groups from within the City of Parksville and (Town of) Qualicum Beach (who are) just very receptive and very happy to have this business here,” he said.
A big sports fan, especially when it comes to hockey and baseball, Chartrand said he’s looking forward to making the business part of the sporting community.
“I’ve made it very clear to them, I’m here to work with you guys. I want to be a part of your association. I want to be the household name in Parksville when it comes to sporting goods for the people that are playing, and that’s for all ages,” he said.
For more info, go to www.oceansideoutfittersinc.com.
